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Friday, September 28, 2007

Movable Scam moves back

As predicted here, the council of Metro, our regional government and slush fund, did not kill the Portland Convention Center hotel project yesterday. Indeed, they took a step in the opposite direction. Suddenly Metro is back to saying that the city will have to subsidize the white elephant even more than it already has. Oh, and get this: Multnomah County should also scratch around in its sofa cushions and come up with a subsidy:

First, Metro officials will talk to potential partners about sharing some of the development costs. The discussions will involve members of the Portland City Council, the Multnomah County Commission, the Oregon Legislature and businesses and property owners that might benefit from the construction of the hotel.

“We are not going to build this hotel without the financial commitment from all partners vested in the economic development of this region,” said Councilor Rod Park, who is heading up research into the project of the council.

Paging Ted Wheeler: You slashed your budget and told us all to get real. Please get Rod Park on the phone right now and let him know what a complete nonstarter that is.

Comments (10)

I'm used to hearing politicians talk unrealistically, but this is so ridiculous. One part of the scam is that other hotels will benefit from the new one, so they should be forced to help pay for it. I don't believe those numbers - if they even exist. I know this is the Rose City but nobody could see out of rose-colored glasses that thick. For the most part, the new hotel will be taking business from the other hotels. So they literally have to pay for their own competition. It's like paying for a romantic rival to take out the girl of your dreams, in the hopes she'll like you more afterwards. It's so crazy only a politician could say it with the right clueless enthusiasm. Of course, it's easy to be a bold visionary when you're playing with other people's money.

The Oregonian reported today how Metro had squashed the hotel supporters. The Oregonian's journalism is a joke. Metro kept the stupid idea alive, and reading other sources, it's just as likely if not more likely to occur now. The city of Portland will move monies around no doubt to make it look like its contributing to the hotel funding without impacting taxes. But in reality it will result someway in higher property taxes, fees or other revenue appropriation. It's the proverbial shell game.

Can't the hoteliers get a little more vocal about this? I mean, even picket signs at their own hotels would make people more aware of what's going on, if Metro, the press, etc. don't listen to them at meetings.

Great, another incompetent with no clue on how to fix schools, potholes, police problems or balance a budget and white male to boot. Listen to his stump speech about light rail - he does know trolleys.

I've noticed recently on promotions for travel tours outside the country where Portland has actually been closer to the point of destination that the airfare portions of the tour cost has been usually over $200 dollars more than other other cities of departure in the US. That is because we have no direct flights. Same applies to in-country destinations.

Gee, maybe we should include the Port of Portland into this fiasco and have them help subsidize the Hotel. Heck, why not the Portland School District, there must something in all this "that's for the kids".

Metro cannot seriously think the County would consider supporting this project before the Sellwood bridge and Wapato jail issues are taken care of. IMO, by even suggesting the County as a player, they've effectively killed the project.

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 155
At this date last year: 241
Total run in 2015: 271
In 2014: 401
In 2013: 257
In 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269